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What conditions do coca plants need to survive and grow?
Q: What conditions do coca plants need to survive and grow? (Light, temp, soil, etc.)

A: Coca grows primarily in the Andes mountains, which have a rocky mountainous soil rich in minerals, lots of sunlight, and cool temperatures. Coca has also been grown at lower elevations even down into the Amazon basin, which has rainforest conditions. One company offers a book on growing the plants. It has been found that plants grown at lower altitudes produce much lower levels of cocaine, so growing it outside of its native environment are likely to produce plants which are of little value other than as an ornamental plant.



Coca plants are specifically named in schedule II in the United States. This means that they are illegal to sell, buy, or grow. This is likely to be the case in many countries.



Here is a good document describing the different varieties of coca plant and methods of cultivation.



Coca Cultivation and Cocaine Processing


Asked By : Loc
Answered By : fire
Published Date : 6 / 12 / 2001
Last Edited Date : 3 / 12 / 2004
Question ID : 2334

Categories: [ Coca ] [ Cultivation ]



Ask Erowid v1.7 - Jul, 2005

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